Paddle wheel



Sept. 20, 1938. J BYRNE 2,130,522

PADDLE WHEEL Filed July 2'7, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet l I Jjie/r/w m mywl ATTORNEYS M. J. BYRNE PADDLE WHEEL Sept. 20, 1938.

Filed July 27, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E a/we INVENTOR ATTORNEYJ M. J. BYRNE PADDLE WHEEL Sept, 20, 1938.

Filed July 27, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENT'OR MJBy \ ATTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1938. M. J. BYRNE 2,130,522

PADDLE WHEEL Filed July 27 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v M MIZLZ.

ATTORNEY5 Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 27,

4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in paddle wheel propellers for boats or the like.

It is well known that the efficiency of the usual paddle wheels, for boats, is seriously impaired 5 by the resistance of the water, to both rotary and travelling movement of such parts as struts and braces through the water, by the impact of the descending paddles against the water and by back drag resulting from bucketing action of the blades and the weight of Water lifted by the wheel as an incident to lifting of the blades out of the water. Other features which materially impair the efficiency of the usual paddle wheel are lack of buoyancy and operation against the dead weight of water accumulated in the wheel.

With the foregoing in mind, the principal object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide a paddle wheel propeller constructed and arranged so that resistance to its operation in the water is reduced to a negligible degree, whereby its efliciency, as compared with present day paddle wheels, is increased to the maximum obtainable in propellers of the paddle wheel type.

Another object is to provide a paddle wheel adapted for variable operation at a fixed speed of rotation to increase or diminish the amount of power obtained at a given speed whereby the speed of a boat may be varied in accordance with different operating requirements without varying the speed of the paddle wheel drive.

Another object is to provide a paddle wheel embodying impeller blades automatically moved, by rotation of the wheel into and out of angular planes relative to the median plane of the wheel and in properly timed relation to their passage through the water to obtain a maximum propelling power with a minimum of resistance to operation of the wheel.

Still another object is to provide a paddle wheel 40 for the purposes above set forth which is buoyant and closed against the entrance of water thereinto beyond the zone of the impeller blades.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention all of which together with the precise nature of my improvements will be readily apparent when the following descrip- 1936, Serial No. 92,918

blades and operating parts therefor in normal position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in bottom plan illustrating the operation of the paddle wheel.

Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating the connections for operating the impeller blades and a pair of cams for operating said connections.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in vertical transverse section, parts showing in elevation, and illustrating a pump for discharging water from the inside of the wheel.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in section further illustrating the pump and the driving connections therefor.

Figure '7 is a view of a modification of the invention, and

Figure 8 is a view of modified types of peller blades.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be noted that my improved paddle Wheel in its preferred embodiment comprises a cylindrical drum I including a transversely flat circumferential part 2 closed by circular side plates 3 extending beyond the part 2 and forming radial edge flanges 4 around the same. The drum I is preferably formed of a suitable light strong metal.

A plurality of radially extending, substantially rectangular, impeller blades 5 are swingably mounted on the circumferential part 2 of the drum I in transversely extending alternately staggered series equidistantly spaced apart around the same as best shown in Figure 3. The mounting comprises, preferably, a blade operating shaft 6 fixed to the inner edge of each blade and journaled in a boss I on the part 2 radially of the latter to project into the interior of said drum as shown in Figure 2. The blade operating shafts 6 are preferably fixed to the blades adjacent one end of the latter so that said ends comprise leading edges. As indicated in Figure 8, however, the blade operating shaft 6 may be fixed to the under edge of the blade 5. at any point intermediate one end thereof and the transverse center of the blade. Fixed in any suitable manner to the projecting end of each blade operating shaft 6, within the drum, is a crank arm 8 extending lengthwise and parallel with its related blade. The crank arms 8 of each series are connected together in parallelism by an arm operating bar 9 extending transversely of the drum l and beyond the outer crank arms. The impeller blades 5 in their normal position are disposed in planes parallel with the median plane of the drum in which position their swinging movement in one direction is limited by engagement of the opposite ends of alternate bars 9 with the side plates 3. The bars 9 are shorter than the width of the drum I to provide for their movement in the opposite direction and alternate bars 9 are staggered relative to intermediate bars transversely of the drum so that the inner ends of alternate bars are disposed upon; opposite sides of the median plane of the drum.

The impeller blades 5 are moved into oblique planes relative to said median plane and back into parallel planes as an incident to each single revolution of the wheel by the following means.

The drum I is rotatably mounted, concentrically, upon the opposed ends of a substantially U-shaped crank shaft I having said opposed ends journaled in suitable bearings, as for instance on the outer ends of the brackets II, as best shown in Figure 3, with its crank portion ;I2 disposed in depending position within the drum I when the parts are arranged as shown in Figure 1. The'drum may be driven by any suitable drive as for instance the worm wheel I3 fast upon one side plate 3 thereof and meshing with the worm shaft l4 mounted in any suitable manner for operation by a power plant not shown. The crank shaft I0 is normally held stationary by means presently described.

Slidably mounted on the crank portion I2 of the crank shaft I0 is a pair of opposed cam shoes I5 adjustable laterally on said crank portion I2 for a purpose presently explained. The cam shoes I5 have arcuately curved convex outer side faces I6 and are disposed intermediate the inner ends of the bars 9. The cams I5 are wipingly engaged, during rotation of the Wheel, by rollers 9' on the inner ends of the bars 9 so that the rollers 9' of alternatin bars 9 wipe over the cam faces I6 of opposite cams and move alternate bars 9 oppositely from normal position. As shown in Figure 3 such movement of the bars 9 moves the alternate series of impeller blades 5 into oppositely angled positions relative to the median plane of the drum I. The cams I5 are so designed that the blades 5 are swung gradually to the high points of said cams and per.- mitted to return to normal position in the same manner. Suitable stops I! on the inner face of the drum part Zand disposed in the paths of movement of the bars 9 limit swinging movement of the blades 5 into angular position.

The cams I5 are adjustable laterally to selectively vary, within the limits of their movement, the angle into which the blades shall be swung. Said cams are also adjustable circumferentially of the drum part 2 to selectively time movement of said blades into angular positions so that such movement of the blades is initiated as the blades enter the water and terminates When the blades reach approximately the vertical center of the drum. From this point reverse movement of the blades back to normal position is permitted and said cams are so shaped that the normal position of the blades is reached before they emerge from the water. Reverse movement of the blades back to normal position is effected by the resistance of the Water to the passage of the blades therethrough. 7

Means for effecting lateral adjustment of the cams I5 are provided comprising the following. The cams I5 are connected together by opposed pairs of horizontally disposed toggle links I8 pivoted at their joints I9 to opposite sides of a colthe preferred form of the invention.

lar threaded upon a vertically disposed shaft 2|. The shaft 2| has one end rotatably mounted centrally in the crank shaft and its opposite end rotatably mounted in one right angled portion of a bracket 22 that is formed on and extends inwardly from one of the arms of the crank portion I2, as shown in Figure l, and the shaft 2| has fast upon its upper end a beveled gear 23. The gear 23 and shaft 2I are rotated in opposite directions to adjust the cams I5 toward and from each other, respectively, through the medium of the toggle links I8 and collar 20. The gear 23 and shaft 2| are rotated by means of a check shaft 24 journaled in a bore 25 in one end of the crank shaft I0, and in the other portion 26of the bracket 22 so that shaft 24 extends at its inner end into the drum I. The inner end of the shaft 24 has fast thereon a beveled gear 21 meshing with the gear 23. The outer end of the shaft 24 has connected thereto a suitable bevel gear drive 28 designed to be connected to a source of power, not shown. As will be clear the described means for adjusting the cams I5 laterally comprises a planetary gear drive in constant driving relation in any position in which the cams I5 are adjusted circumferentially.

The means for adjusting the cams I5 circumferentially comprises a bevel gear drive 29 at the other end of the crank shaft I0 which may be connected in any suitable manner to a source of power not shown.

It will be understood that all the openings in the drum I such as the bearing openings for the crank shaft I0 and the openings for the blade operating shaft 6 are designed to be suitably packed against leakage so that the drum I is rendered water-tight as far as is possible. However, to discharge any water from said drum which may have leaked into the same a pump 30 is provided in the drum. The pump may be of i any suitable rotary type including a rotor shaft 3I, an intake pipe 32 and a discharge pipe 33, and may be mounted in any suitable manner in the drum I. Preferably the rotor shaft 3I is driven by means of a friction drive comprising coengaging wheels 34 and 35, respectively, one fixed on the rotor shaft 3I and the other preferably mounted on one of the cams I5 so that its periphery engages the inside face of the drum I and is driven by rotation of the latter. The

exhaust pipe 33 may be connected to a discharge bore 33 formed in the driven end of the crank shaft I0 axially thereof.

In Figure 7 a pair of paddle wheels of the type described in the foregoing have been shown mounted in side by side relation and equipped with means common to both wheels for adjusting the cams laterally and circumferentially. In this form of the invention the cams I5 are slidably mounted on crank shafts I0, similar to that previously described, for adjustment circumferentially of the drums I and for lateral adjustment by means of toggle links I8, collars 20, threaded shafts 2I, and bevel gears 23' fast on the shafts 2| all as described with reference to Opposed ends of the crank shafts I0 of the pair of drums I are connected by a sleeve 36, in fixed relation, upon which shaft the drums I are rotatably mounted at one side thereof, and to which a bevel gear drive 31 is suitably connected for operating the sleeve to swing the crank arms I0. Bevel gears 23' are operated by bevel gears 39 fast upon a shaft 39 journaled at its opposite ends in the outer ends of'the crank shafts I0,

respectively, and intermediate its ends in the sleeve 36. One end of the shaft 39 has suitably connected thereto a bevel gear drive 40 identical with the gear drive 28 previously described.

The foregoing is a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of my invention together with certain modifications thereof and it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be clear therefrom without further explanation.

It is to be understood, however, that other modifications, and changes in details may be resorted to without departing from the inventive con cept disclosed and that right is herein reserved to all such modifications falling within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a paddle wheel, a closed drum forming the body portion of the wheel and rotatably mounted, a plurality of radially disposed blades mounted in the circumferential part of the drum for swinging movement into and out of angular relation to the median plane of the drum, mech anism in said drum operative as an incident to rotation of the latter to swing said series of blades into angular relation, and a pump mechanism in said drum and operative from the circumferential face of said drum for discharging water from the latter.

2. A paddle wheel comprising a drum, a plurality of blades extending radially from the circumferential part of said drum in transversely disposed alternately staggered equally spaced series and mounted thereon for swinging movement, a bar for each series of blades and having the latter connected thereto for movement of the blades of each series in unison, a roller on each bar, a crank shaft having the drum journaled on the opposed ends thereof, opposed cam shoes slidably mounted on the crank shaft and wipingly engaged with the rollers for swinging the blades, toggle links having one of their ends connected to the cam shoes for movement of the latter toward and away from each other, and means having the opposite ends of the toggle links connected thereto for operating the latter.

3, A paddle Wheel comprising a closed cylindrical drum, a plurality of blades, pivot means for said blades and extending through the circumferential part of said drum, said blades being secured to the outer ends of said pivot means and extending radially from the circumferential part of said drum in transversely disposed alternately staggered equally spaced series for swinging movement into and out of angular relation to the median plane of the drum, a crank arm for the pivot means of each blade and disposed within the drum, a bar for each series of blades and having the crank arms pivotally connected thereto for movement of the blades of each series in unison, a roller on each bar, a substantially U-shaped crank shaft having opposed ends with the drum journaled thereon, opposed cam shoes slidably mounted on the crank shaft and having arcuate curved convexed outer faces wipingly engaged with the rollers for swinging the blades, toggle links having one of their ends connected to the cam shoes for movement of the latter toward and away from each other, and means having the opposite ends of the toggle links connected thereto for operating the latter.

4. A paddle wheel comprising a drum, a plurality of blades extending radially from the circumferential part of said drum in transversely disposed alternately staggered equally spaced series and mounted thereon for swinging movement, a bar for each series of blades and having the latter pivotally connected thereto for movement of the blades of each series in unison, a roller on each bar, a substantially U-shaped crank shaft having the drum journaled on the opposed ends thereof, opposed cam shoes slidably mounted on the crank shaft and having arcuate curved convexed outer faces wipingly engaged with the rollers for swinging the blades, toggle links having one of their ends connected to the cam shoes for movement of the latter toward and away from each other, a bracket formed on and, extending inwardly from the crank portion of the crank shaft, right angled disposed portions on the inner end of the bracket, a threaded shaft mounted for rotation in one of said right angled portions and the crank shaft respectively, a collar threaded on the shaft and having the opposite ends of the toggle links secured thereto, a second shaft journaled in the crank shaft and the other right angle portion respectively, and gears on said shafts and meshing with each other for moving the collar on the first shaft to operate the toggle links.

MICHAEL J. BYRNE. 

